Emily.“Although, I don’t know much about golf, but your grandfather has got to be a pro in this game,” I said to Tessa. We were standing side by side applauding Grandpa Moore for an excellent shot.Tessa whipped her head to me, a lingering smile on her lips. “You might be shocked when you see his dozens of awards in his study.”“I would like to see them!” I said excitedly.“Of course, I would show you after this match,” Tessa agreed and then turned her attention back her old man.Christopher wasn’t standing with us. He had a golf club in his hand while cheering his old man. He had played earlier, and he had been good at it.After the match, Tessa grabbed my hand and pulled me towards her grandfather before letting go.“Grandpa, Emily said you played like a pro, and then I told her all about your awards. She seemed fascinated and would like to see them.”I didn’t know this was why Tessa dragged me to him. I felt slightly embarrassed. But remembering what Christopher had said t
Emily.Christopher and I took a long walk around. He showed me places I didn’t get to see last night. And by the time we took the walk back to the house, my knees almost gave way.The only thing he could say to me was that I would be doing more than that now that Stella was gone.“Okay,” you don’t have to remind me of it.Tessa mentioned something about watching her grandfather play golf later in the evening. I tucked that schedule into memory and left for the balcony with her to sit and chat.I started feeling sleepy and had to excuse myself. I returned to my room in time to hear my phone ring. I hadn’t taken it with me for breakfast and that is why coming back to it now and seeing thirty missed calls from my mother shouldn’t be a surprise.For a brief moment, I contemplated ignoring the call or returning it. I chose the latter.Nothing good ever came out of trying my mother’s patience. I know her to well.When fire sparks in her head, she might go as far as to start calling
Emily.“I want to kiss you. Can I?” He whispered, with clear amusement flashing across his eyes. “W-what... H-how... Do you need permission to—”I was so startled that I didn’t know how to word my question. And I hadn’t even finished the one I managed to ask when his lips crashed onto mine.I actually meant to ask him if he needed permission for things like this. He didn’t need to, given the stage of our relationship. But I had also meant to ask him why he would want to kiss me right now, right here in Tessa’s presence.But of course, he didn’t give me the chance.“C-chri...” My words were swallowed as he deepened the kiss, not giving me the chance to speak.I was completely disoriented all thanks to me worrying about Tessa catching us.She had her back to us. And only a turn of her head was all it would take for her to see.“Focus, Emily” I heard Christopher’s voice pulled me back to him. I hadn’t realized when he stopped.“How can I focus when there is someone else in t
Emily.“Chris, where would you and Emily live after the wedding?” That was the question Tessa asked Christopher the moment I handed her a cup of tea and sat down next to him.I glanced at Chris as well, showing interest in his response.His family didn’t look like the type to allow their members live in a different house when they had a mansion big and comfortable enough to house even to their fourth generation.“Grandpa wants us to live here, but I would discuss with him tomorrow. After the wedding, Emily and I will spend two weeks here before moving back to my penthouse,” Christopher explained.Tessa nodded in understanding. “Newlyweds need this moment to live by themselves without anyone’s interference.” Then she added, “Chris, if I were to be in your shoes, I wouldn’t want to spend the first two weeks of my marriage here.”“That was my plan initially, but I need to make sure I don’t give grandpa the slightest opportunity to get us to move back here permanently.” Christop
Christopher.Tessa stopped talking and dropped the ex topic altogether when she noticed how comfortable Emily was. I was quite sure Emily didn’t think it was nice to mention her ex-boyfriend in her fiancé’s presence. Also, my cousin seemed to come back to her senses.She glanced at Emily, and then at me before releasing a deep sigh.“Emily, forgive me, but your mother is a handful,” Tessa declared as a matter of fact. “And please don’t get mad at me in case I keep saying it. Because, I probably wouldn’t stop until she changed. Now, what are the odds?” “I know.” Emily agreed, hiding a smile. “She might never change, so your mouth should get prepared not to stop talking about her.”“Good!” I shook my head. I was in for a proper conversation with Emily tonight, but it seemed like my kind cousin had forgotten all about the help she promised earlier and has decided not to leave, even placing orders for a midnight snack.Or maybe I got the ‘process’ all wrong?Soon, a soft polit
Christopher.Tessa and I walked Emily to her designated bedroom.Along the corridors, Tessa mentioned spending the night with Emily so she wouldn’t feel lonely in any environment.“Chris, I know you would want to spend a little time with Emily. And on this note, bribe me,” Tessa said, looking back.“What do you want?” I asked, hiding the smile threatening to spring up from my lips.“Treat my Emily well,” she said before turning her gaze ahead.I felt that she had wasted the opportunity. Treating Emily well wasn’t even a question. It is something I have already decided to do.“How is Emily yours?” I asked, deciding to get to the bottom of it.“Because she is my best friend, even till the end.” I didn’t doubt that.We got to the room Emily would be residing in. Tessa opened the door and let us in. I shut the door and followed.My gaze took in every piece of furniture in the room. The room was very comfortable. It was one of the best guest rooms. Emily was worried when she d
Christopher.I was happy to see Emily’s parents finally leaving, especially after her mother spoke foolishly. Fortunately, Tessa was present. She took care of the situation the best way it could have been.Outside the house, in the midst of the last minute cheerful chattering, Emily’s mother discreetly called her aside. She had something to say to her.I was walking behind them hence I was able to hear her words clearly. Her tone wasn’t kind. Typical Mrs. Wilson.She didn’t give Emily a chance before to register her statement before grabbing her wrist and pulling her away.I stopped in my steps, slowly taking my hands out of my pants’ front pockets, a subtle frown probably on my face already.I was curious as to what ridiculous last minute pep-talk or instruction Emily’s mother remembered to share with her.I stood at the spot, my gaze following both women as they stopped thirty steps away from the others. Since they backed the rest of us, I couldn’t see their facial expres
Tessa.“You don’t know me.” Brenda shook her head. “You don’t know me at all. You belittle me.” I didn’t care to find out what she meant by that. I simply ignored her and watched from the corner of my eyes as she sat down on one of the couches.Finally, I crossed my leg over the other and met her heated gaze.Soon, we will know if I overhyped or belittled her.A few minutes passed and I was up on my feet again. “We are heading back into the house. It’s time for Dinner,” I announced.Brenda glared at me while standing on my feet. But she had no choice but to follow me.We were right on time for dinner. Everyone had moved to the dining table and were seated when we arrived.Emily’s mother, Mrs. Wilson as I preferred to call her because I didn’t like associating her with my best friend, grinned as soon as she saw us walk in.“Brenda, how was the tour?” she inquired, already trying to help Brenda pull out a chair beside her at the table.I didn’t care if Brenda was going to l
Tessa.I couldn’t believe that Brenda would dare try to follow after Emily and Chris without shame.Did every explanation I gave to her dumb adoptive mother who didn’t know how to read the room, escape her ears? Brenda stopped in her steps and turned to look at me before shifting her gaze to the right path and glancing back to me.“Isn’t that the way out?” She asked, pointing towards that direction.A scoff escaped my lips as I took a few steps forward closing the gap between us.‘God, please keep me sane enough to handle this lady with patience until the very end,’ I prayed silently in my head.Brenda will make you lose your calm and your years of dedicated home training within minutes.“Brenda, be careful not to get on my nerves. Unlike my best friend Emily, there is nothing on the path, stopping me from dealing with you,” I warned, trying to keep my voice down.Brenda furrowed her brows, pretending to be confused by my reaction, as if I had just flared up out of the blues